Basic Introduction to Huilong Tea of Lianghe County

Huilong Tea is a specialty product of Lianghe County, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. The tea bushes are 0.9-1.2 meters high with a crown width of 1.5-1.7 meters, presenting a level shape. The buds and leaves are robust and greenish-yellow in color, densely covered with silvery down, soft in texture, and highly tender. The finished tea is tightly rolled and curled, lustrous in appearance with prominent down, the infusion is bright yellow-green, and the infused leaves are uniform and bright.

The region where Huilong Tea is grown features a subtropical monsoon climate, abundant rainfall, mild temperatures, distinct vertical climate, long hours of sunshine, and ample photosynthetic resources. The lowest annual rainfall is 1075 mm, while the highest is 1868 mm, with an average annual rainfall of 1400 mm, making it suitable for tea cultivation.

Lianghe County has a long history of tea production, rich tea planting resources, and superior production conditions. It is one of the original homes of Yunnan large-leaf tea. “Huilong Tea,” produced in Huilong Village, Dachang Township, 18 kilometers east of the county seat of Zhai Island, is well-known among tea products in Yunnan Province.

The reason why Huilong Tea enjoys widespread fame and favor is twofold: first, the elevation of Dachang is high but not cold; at an altitude of 1580 meters, the annual rainfall is 1648 mm, the annual average temperature is 15°C, the area is often foggy yet receives ample sunshine, the soil is acidic red loam with deep arable layers and rich organic matter, which not only supports the growth of tea plants but also enriches the content of aromatic substances and proteins within the shoots. Second, the tea-making process is meticulous and sophisticated. The main method involves manual processing. The master craftsman is the elderly tea farmer, Mr. Zhai Wenkuang from Huilong Village. In summary, his technique includes: high-temperature fixation (first high then low), hot rolling for tight rolls, cold rolling for higher aroma, low-temperature long stir-frying, and strong fire to promote aroma. As a result, Huilong Tea is characterized by tightly compacted rolls, dark green color, clear and bright infusion, rich fragrance, and long-lasting flavor, truly deserving of its name as “Bamboo Leaf Green.” To better serve the revitalization of Lianghe's economy through Huilong Tea, in recent years, both Dachang Tea Factory and Lianghe County Tea Factory have been purchasing raw materials from Huilong Village, refining them into two exquisite boxed products branded as “Lianghe Huilong Tea” and “Huilong Green Jade,” which are widely popular among consumers.

Nutritional Value

Huilong Tea is rich in nutrients, with a refreshing and intense aroma, a full-bodied taste that is strong without being harsh, a sweet aftertaste without bitterness, and a long-lasting finish. Its key nutritional components include: water-soluble extracts ≥37, amino acids ≥2.5, polyphenols ≥20, Caffeine ≥2.0.

Product Features

Huilong Tea, with bushes 0.9-1.2 meters high and a crown width of 1.5-1.7 meters, presents a level shape. The buds and leaves are robust, the color is greenish-yellow, the down is dense and prominent, the leaves are soft in texture, and the tenderness is strong. The finished tea is tightly rolled and curled, lustrous in appearance with prominent down, the infusion is bright yellow-green, and the infused leaves are uniform and bright.

The Lianghe Huilong Tea brand was initially famous for Green Tea and now includes three series: green tea, Black Tea, and Pu'er tea.

Huilong Pu'er tea is made using sun-dried green tea processes, available in raw and ripe varieties. The process includes spreading out, fixation, rolling, solar drying, sorting, and steaming and pressing. For the ripe variety, a fermentation step is added. This results in a product with a bright red color, smooth mouthfeel, and a sweet aftertaste, embodying a regional brand.

The ancient tea gardens are essential sources of raw materials for Lianghe Huilong black tea. Through the processes of withering, rolling, fermentation, and drying, or fixation, rolling, and steaming and pressing, they are reborn as Huilong black tea, which boasts “high fragrance, full-bodied taste, beautiful shape, and bright color.”

Huilong green tea uses high-quality Yunnan large-leaf species as raw material, undergoing the processes of withering, fixation, rolling, roasting and shaping, final drying, and firing to enhance aroma in one continuous process, known as the grinding pot technique. The product has a full-bodied taste, is strong but not harsh, and sweet without bitterness. Testing has shown that the water-soluble extracts in Lianghe Huilong stir-fried green tea products reach 47.5%, the polyphenol content is 41%, and the amino acid content is 3.8%. These values are generally higher than those of other similar products from Yunnan large-leaf tea.

History and Folklore

The “Brief History of Nanbian Chiefdom” records that in 25 BC, the Lianghe region along the Dayingjiang River was inhabited by the ancestors of the Wa and De'ang ethnic groups, both known as “ancient tea farmers.” Many robust and tall ancient tea trees grow on Manggu Mountain and surrounding mountains in present-day Lianghe County. According to calculations by Yunnan tea experts, these ancient tea trees are over 1000 years old, serving as living proof of Lianghe's long history of tea cultivation and processing. According to surveys by the Lianghe County Agriculture Bureau, there are approximately 30,000 acres of ancient tea tree distribution, with over 143,700 individual trees existing in areas between 1500 and 2200 meters above sea level. In 1941, Li Genyuan, a senior official of the Republic of China, vigorously promoted the replacement of opium cultivation with tea. In 1945, Lianghe County issued the “Public Notice on Prohibition of Opium and Encouragement of Tea Plantation,” initiating the history of large-scale tea cultivation and processing in Huilong Village, Dachang Township. Thus, the “Huilong Tea Brand” came into existence.

Awards and Honors for Lianghe Huilong Tea

The “Lianghe Huilong Tea” brand officially obtained certifications from the Ministry of Agriculture of the People's Republic of China for “Geographical Indication Protection Registration,” the Yunnan Provincial Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau for “Local Standards for Highland Specialty Agricultural Products – Huilong Tea,” and the State Trademark Office for “Geographical Indication Trademark Registration” in April 2013, June 2016, and April 2025, respectively.

In various international agricultural (or horticultural) expos and “Yun Tea Cup” competitions, Huilong Tea has won more than 50 gold, Silver, bronze, and excellence awards. Local tea enterprises have registered trademarks that have received five well-known trademarks in Yunnan Province and ten famous trademarks in Dehong Prefecture. Lianghe Huilong Tea series products have consistently earned the title of “Products Loved by Consumers in Yunnan Province.”

In 2025, “The Skill of Making Huilong Tea” was listed as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage.